Sullivan School Board Approves Students’ Trip to Spain

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•May 29, 2019•
By Ariana Cherry
for the News Progress

Sullivan School Board approved a trip to Spain for Spanish Class students.
Students from Patricia King’s Spanish class approached the Sullivan School Board requesting permission to take a trip to Spain during the Spanish Holy Week (April 2020). A few of the Spanish class students presented well-prepared speeches explaining the trip to the board members.
The trip would cost $3,165 which would include boarding, dining and souvenir purchases. Students also told the board they would come up with ways to raise money for the trip.
They would like to bring the Spanish culture back to the United States and also be able to apply what they have learned in class. The board unanimously approved the trip, noting that the students would be responsible for the cost of the trip.
Sullivan Elementary School principal Daniel Allen reported that the students had their annual SEA track meet May 9 and this was the first year that the kindergarten students got to participate. The money made from concessions was put towards the SEA Scholarship which is awarded to a student pursuing education. Read More

Memorial Day Services 2019

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Drone photo by R. R. Best
Memorial Day Services
Memorial Day services remembering those who died for the United States were held at Greenhill Cemetery in Sullivan at 8:00 a.m. Monday. Sullivan American Legion Post 68 honor guard (left) gathered for the traditional 21 gun salute while Boy Scout Troop #39 marches in. The Honor Guard led the Memorial Day march from the Sullivan square to Greenhill Cemetery for a formal service. The Honor Guard also conducted Memorial services at the Vetrerans Memorial at Wyman Park and at Moultrie County Memorial Park.

End of Act One for OVHS Class of 2019 Graduates

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Okaw Valley High School honor students from left valedictorians Bella Benning and Kailynn Bobbett. Salutatorian Madison Vogel.

•May 29, 2019•
By Ellen Ferrera
for The News Progress

To the traditional strains of Elgar’s “Pomp and Circumstance”, 41 Okaw Valley High School students entered the gym for their graduation ceremony Sunday, May 26.
For some it may be their last time in this gym and with each other.
The building was filled to capacity for this 80th graduation festivity. The podium was festooned with a large bouquet of the class flower(rose) in the class color of lemon yellow. Each of the young girls carried a large yellow rose as well.
The ceremony began with the Pledge of Allegiance which was led by one of the valedictorians, Bella Benning. This was followed by a welcome by school principal Matt Shoaff who also gave special recognition to all veterans in the audience this Memorial Day. School board members and all the teachers were introduced.
Kent Stauder, Superintendent of Schools, presented the inductees to the Volunteer Wall of Fame and also the Alumni Wall of Fame award to Robert Disney, Jr. Disney was traveling to the event from Colorado when his truck broke down. Read More

Best of OVHS Class

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Photo furnished
Best of OVHS Class
Kailynn Bobbett and Bella Benning were recognized on Saturday at the Best of the Class Event. WCIA 3 has recognized area high school seniors through this unique community project since 1983. This long running program honors students who have achieved academic excellence by featuring them in a series of television announcements. Bobbett and Benning are co-valedictorians at Okaw Valley High School.

Graduation Reflects on the Good Old Days at SHS

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Valedictorian Spencer Johnson

•May 22, 2019•
Sullivan High School held the 141st commencement exercises Sunday in weather that was as unpredictable as the 66 seniors’ futures.
Intermittent storms forced the 2:30 p.m. graduation into a packed high school gymnasium where principal Erik Young presented his final high school class to the board of education.
Young will start the 2019-20 school year as superintendent of Ridgeview CUSD #19, near his hometown of Fairbury. Young has been high school principal for the past six years, previously serving as middle school and high school assistant principal the prior four years.
Valedictorian Spencer Johnson’s opening remarks included being thankful he could count on his fingers, and his legs would stand up for him.
He went on to point out the lessons learned in high school were preparation for those graduating to live their own lives out in the world.
“Do your own thing, don’t just survive,” Spencer encouraged his classmates.
Class salutatorian Broderick Goss reeled off favorite quotes noting, “I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them.” Read More

Sparrows Silver

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Photo by Darian Hays
Sparrows Silver
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, tractors and more gathered on a sunny Saturday in Lovington to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Sparrows Unlimited, Inc. Saturday was filled with sunshine and kids playing on the inflatable playground. By Sunday afternoon storms and wind blew through the village, taking hundred year old trees down and limiting access to Route 133. A combined volunteer effort led to a four hour storm clean up May 19.

Bridge, Liquor and Taxes Occupy Moultrie County Board Session

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•May 22, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

The Moultrie County Board approved a liquor license for Fairway Family Restaurant, funded a bridge replacement and learned when tax bills are due.
A Class B liquor license ($750) was approved for Panther Property 58 located at Fairways Family Restaurant at the Sullivan Country Club. The annual Special Events liquor license ($100) was granted The Little Theatre on the Square for May 17-18 at the Great Pumpkin Patch Back 40 Market.
Road and Bridge Committee chair Kevin McReynolds moved to approve $150,000 in Special Bridge Funds to aid Sullivan Road District replace the bridge at TR145, CR1125N. The motion was approved unanimously. Read More

Sheep to Clothing Event Spins at Illinois Amish Heritage Center

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Photo furnished
First step in spinning wool into thread is getting the wool. Sheep shearing provides the wool that spins into thread that turns into cloth.

•May 22, 2019•
As the spinning wheel turns, the history of Illinois Amish heritage is revealed in a Sheep to Clothing event Saturday, June 1, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The fascinating process behind spinning wool fibers into thread will be demonstrated live that day. A spinning wheel made by E.J. Miller in 1864, traveled from Somerset Co., Pa. with the founding three families of the Amish settlement in the Arthur area. It was recovered from the attic of the Moses Yoder home and will be on display during the Sheep to Clothing event.
That spinning wheel spent many years in the attic of the oldest home in the community, the Moses Yoder home, and will be on display.
“It’s a wonder it’s together at all,” Ervin Yoder, grandson of Moses said. “When we were kids, we used to play with it all the time.”
A Nine Patch on Point quilt believed to be made by Moses’ niece, Barbara Yoder Otto, was the inspiration for the Illinois Amish Heritage Center quilt logo and will be among the display quilts. Read More

Yost Denied New Moultrie County Trial

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•May 22, 2019•
By Mike Brothers

Judge Hugh Finson ruled there was no conflict in Michael Yost’s defense, denying a new trial request for the 2015 murder of Sheri Randall of Sullivan.
Judge Finson explained public defender Brad Rau’s representation of Randall seven years prior to his representation of Yost on murder charges did not represent a per se conflict as argued by Shelby County public defender Walter Lookofsy on Yost’s behalf.
Moultrie County States Attorney Tracy Weaver cited a Supreme Court case denying a per se conflict on unrelated past representation.
“In analysis of the facts of the case, fundamental is the thread of knowledge,” Weaver told the court.”He (Rau) does not recall representing Ms. Randall.”
Lookofsy argued the defendant does not have to demonstrate anything except the victim and Yost were both represented by public defender Rau. Read More

Spark Housing Committee Unveils Housing

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Photo by Ellen Ferrera
Spark Housing Committee representative Bill Burger told Senior Center visitors about a goal of the committee to revitalize houses utilizing local talent.

•May 22, 2019•
Maintenance Initiative
By Ellen Ferrera
for the News Progress

Seniors, veterans, the disabled and widows will be the primary beneficiaries of the new housing initiative proposed by the Spark Housing Committee to a large group of seniors gathered in Sullivan.
The Sullivan citizen action group spokesperson, Bill Burger, told the crowd at the Senior Center the goal of the committee is “to revitalize houses in Sullivan utilizing local talent and volunteers to improve the quality and sustainability of our community.”
These volunteers will undertake home improvement projects needed by seniors, veterans, the disabled, and widows - projects that they are unable to do themselves. Tasks could include trimming shrubs, mowing lawns, cleaning gutters, painting, building ramps, repairing porches/steps and other small home repairs.
Burger emphasized that projects such as electrical or plumbing repairs would require professionals and are not within the scope of the initiative. Read More